Jackrabbits drop Summit opener to NDSU

Saturday, December 4

Frost Arena

5 p.m.

South Dakota State University

North Dakota State

12/4/2010 8:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

The backcourt tandem of Danielle DeGagne and Katie Birkel combined for 45 points, lifting North Dakota State to a 78-71 victory over South Dakota State in the Summit League opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Frost Arena.

In ending a 10-game losing streak to SDSU, the Bison improved to 4-3 overall. The Jackrabbits, who suffered only their second home loss ever to a Summit League opponent, dropped to 3-4 overall.

After trading baskets and leads in the opening minutes, the final 10 minutes of the first half became a game of runs. The Bison grabbed a 20-13 lead behind the play of sophomore guard Danielle DeGagne, who scored 14 or her game-high 24 points in the first half. SDSU came right back with a 9-2 run, featuring five points from Macie Michelson to tie the game at 22.

NDSU, however, reeled off the next 12 points, bookended by three-pointers from Abby Plucker and Hannah Linz. Megan Waytashek ended the three-and-a-half-minute drought with a basket that helped spark a Jackrabbit run. SDSU scored six of the final seven points of the half to pull to within 39-34 at the break.

The Bison never relinquished the lead in the second half, although SDSU did tie game on one occasion. A DeGagne three-pointer with 8:30 to play in the game put NDSU back up by 10, 62-52.

Steph Paluch answered with a three-pointer to jump-start a 13-3 Jackrabbit run during which SDSU tied the game at 65-all as Kristin Rotert converted 1-of-2 free throws with 3:03 to play.

NDSU regained the lead for good its next trip down as Abby Plucker hit a jumper and went on to widen its lead back to 10 as the Jackrabbits missed six consecutive shot attempts in the closing minutes.

Birkel finished with 21 points for the Bison, who placed four players in double figures. Plucker tallied 15 and Hannah Linz added 12.

The Bison, who hovered around 60 percent shooting from the field most of the night, finished at 54.2 percent, making 26-of-48 attempts, including 7-of-14 from three-point range. At the line, NDSU made 19-of-26 tries, 73.1 percent.

SDSU was led by Jennie Sunnarborg, who scored 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field before fouling out. Michelson reached double figures for the first time this season with 13.

The Jackrabbits finished the night 26-of-61 from the field, 42.6 percent, but were only 6-of-23 from long range. SDSU ended the game 13-of-21 from the free throw line, 61.9 percent.

SDSU held a 35-28 rebounding advantage, with Leah Dietel tying a season high by pulling down a game-high nine boards. Plucker, Birkel and Janae Burich each grabbed six rebounds to lead the Bison.

The Jackrabbits return to non-conference action Tuesday at Washington State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Central) in Pullman, Wash.

NOTES: NDSU leads the all-time series, 38-33 ... the Bison last defeated the Jackrabbits during the 2004-05 season... with nine points, Rotert upped her career total to 1,140 and moved into 24th place on the SDSU career scoring charts, passing Lori Fish (1,133 points from 1987-90) ... SDSU dropped to 47-8 all-time against Summit League opponents, including a 26-2 mark at Frost Arena ... the Jackrabbits had their 11-game home winning streak end and are 131-15 at Frost Arena under head coach Aaron Johnston ... SDSU committed 14 turnovers - its second-lowest total of the season ... the Jackrabbits held a 16-4 advantage in bench points, led by freshman Hannah Strop's career-high seven points ... attendance was a season-high 3,855